President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Akin Oyegbola, has urged the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) to collaborate with governments to tackle the menace of building collapse in the country.
Oyegbola, who gave the charge during the 2022 Biennial General Meeting and elections of new BCPG National and Lagos Chapter executives in Ikeja, stressed the need for synergy among the seven built environment professionals to educate Nigerians on the need to engage the right experts in various stages of construction.
He urged the guild to adopt urgent measures to ensure regulatory agencies enforce building laws. Oyegbola also called for better working relationship among the professional bodies, where duties overlapped to be able to restrict themselves to their core areas of expertise. He commended efforts of the guild in building the capacity of its members but bemoaned the inability of the group to prevent building collapse.
“The guild seemed to be more visible and effective during the rescue and evacuation exercises at the collapse site than it is in prevention of the building collapse.
He cited the 21-storey building that collapsed on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi on Nov. 1, 2021, where the guild joined in rescue efforts, whereas it should have prevented the incidence.
“What makes the guild original and unique is the fact that it set out on the path of prevention of building collapse. The guild is still a far cry from the realisation of its set objectives in this regard,” he said. He said professionals should address the causes of building collapse so that they would not have to be dissipating energy on investigations. He assured that the APBN would continually play its role of ensuring harmonious relationship among professional bodies.
BCPG outgoing president, Mr. George Akinola, said building collapse had affected the image of the country. Akinola said the BCPG was seeking partnerships with states across Nigeria to stop the ugly trend but lamented that the government of Lagos State had been “paying lip service” to efforts for effective collaboration.
He lauded Ogun State Government, which had begun collaboration with the guild on policies towards curbing the menace. He added that Akwa Ibom was also taking steps to partner the guild.
The BCPG founder and pioneer president, Mr. Kunle Awobodu, said the guild was determined to eliminate the quacks responsible for most of the infractions causing building collapse. Awobodu called for sustainability in partnerships and transparency on the part of governments in the fight to prevent collapse.
MEANWHILE, the guild has elected, Mr. Eddy Atumonyogo as its new president. The new executives are Sulaimon Yusuf (Vice President); Mrs. Adenike Ayanda (General Secretary); Elliot Orupabo (Financial Secretary); Mrs. Fatimoh Osho (Treasurer); John Agmada Bawa (Publicity Secretary); Gbenga Alara (Research & Development Secretary) and George Akinola (immediate past president).
